The English Pilot andthe Angel:

During 1942-45(Second World War), on April, British soldiers were stationed at Haochong village, Tamenglong district. In the region, there had been sporadic bombing by the British Air Forces.  One morning, a plane was hovering around with unusual sound and later fell on the ground. It was also later learnt that the first pilot sacrificed himself by allowing his co-pilot to abort the plane with a parachute. But, the unfortunate pilot who jumped off the plane was caught on bamboo plants at the borders of a paddy field belonging to a villager of Songpher.  Two women farmers, Pu Chongroibum’s mother and her friend, on their way saw the white, tall and brownish-hair pilot hanging on the branches of the bamboos. Then, out of panic, they screamed, “Oh my god! Oh my God! Look up that is an angel! May be the angel they talked about who is about to come very soon….”So, the two without looking back ran away. Pu.Sherkhochung Hmangte whose field was adjacent to the site met the two women and together they went to the site; the white-pilot was still hanging then. They cut the bamboo plants and loosen off the pilot. And the joyous pilot without leaving any chance first inquired about the presence of any Japanese troops around. Surprisingly, Mr.Pu Sherkhochung was somehow little familiar with English, so, he asked, “SIR, ARE YOU FLYING?”(sic) Then, the white-man understood and answered, “yes!” The two women praised pu Sherkhochung like anything. They took him to their village and served him with local foods. In the village, there were some good English speakers-Leujangur,Songjalun and Chungjahen with whom the pilot had had a good conversation with. The pilot stayed for two days in Songpher village and on the next day, a villager dropped him up to Tamenglong by foot. Just before leaving the village, they said that he had written a letter or some kind of certificate or something and warned them of keeping it safe. After a month passed, around 150 numbers of Japanese soldiers reached the village. And the villagers, in order to keep away from the Japanese notice, hid here and there; it was never found back. Till today, nobody knows what would have been written inside. (It remained  mystery)

(Excerpt from Pu Sherkhopao’s memoir- 1942-47 Japan war in Manipur particular to LangkhongKhunnouTamenglong District)